Candidate says North West Norfolk seat 'unwinnable'

The Labour candidate for North West Norfolk has told the BBC that the Queen should have more powers and that he is fighting an "unwinnable seat".

In an interview with the BBC News website Labour candidate Manish Sood, when asked whether local authorities need more powers when it comes to housing, he said: "The Queen should have more powers, people have forgotten - she is part of being British.

When asked if he is critical of the Labour Party when canvassing, he said: "People are unhappy. And I'm beginning to feel that the truth is the government doesn't like it. They are not prepared to change."

He added: "I know this is an unwinnable seat."

Conservative candidate Henry Bellingham - who won the seat from the Social Democratic Party in 1983, lost it to Labour in 1997 and retook it in 2001 - said: "I would not have every said that (that the seat was unwinnable).

"I never take votes for granted.

'Serious party'

"I had to take that seat from the SDP and lost it in 1997."

He added: "With the constitutional monarchy we have it is very important that the Queen keeps out of politics. Particularly important if there was a hung parliament."

When asked about the Labour candidate saying the seat was unwinnable by the other parties because it is such a strong Conservative seat, Liberal Democrat candidate William Summers said: "When I've been talking to people it seems they are sick of the Labour government but are not convinced by David Cameron.

"So, from my point of view, I really want to run a strong local campaign.

"I think the more I can get out and talk to people they will realise we have got some good policies and we're a serious party."

The candidates so far announced for North West Norfolk are: Conservative: Henry Bellingham; Labour: Manish Sood; Lib Dem: William Summers; Green: Michael de Whalley; BNP: David Fleming.

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